INDO-CHINA TENSION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 253, 23 September 1940, Page 7

INDO-CHINA TENSION.

FRENCH. MOBILISATION. rejection’of demands? . . j LONDON, Sept. 22. \ The Hanoi correspondent of the 1 United Press of America says the j authorities in Indo-China are taking .; emergency measures. The new Japan- | esc demands have apparently been re- ; jected. French mobilisation is almost • complete and troops are reported to be ready to move at short notice. 1 Trains are standing by to evacuate i women and children to the south. It is announced in Hanoi that Nip- i pon Airways have suspended the Hanoi j service and rernoved all their equip- i ment. The Japanese evacuation ships at Saigon have sailed, but so far as is known the evacuees have not yet left Haiphong. The French authorities . said they would resist a Japanese landing if one were attempted to enforce an ultimatum. • A report from Vichy says the French Foreign Office announces that Tokio has demanded a swift conclusion j to the Indo China talks. Earlier reports stated: The French ; authorities have issued a communique • that the- Japanese have modified the ; range of their new demands, and consequently the negotiations have been resumed “in a favourable atmosphere.” The' French officials gave the impression that the conversations would produce an early agreement. The head of the Japanese mission (Major General Nishihara) said: “The . Japanese attitude does not threaten Indo China’s territorial integrity nor French sovereignty, but Japan is convinced that the situation demands the setting of a time limit for a detailed and final settlement.” General Nishihara added that the Japanese attitude was based on an understanding between the Tokio and Vichy Governments providing for the French and Japanese to settle locally details of the military facilities to be granted to Japan to facilitate operations against General . Chiang Kai-shek. !